Peter V. Brett's nightfall saga REVIEW
I came back to it… after years
I remember reading The Demonic Cycle by Peter V Brett back in High School (yes, I am that old). It’s a story that I truly believe is post-apocalyptic (like… if you read it - I believe that flamework weapons is guns, and whatever they have found was a tank) story where at one point of human history - the demons emerged from the ground. The kicker? Humanity forgot all about magic, runes, etc. That could actually stop the demons.
Every night the Demons emerge from the core and go for a hunt. They obviously like eating people. They are also connected with their surroundings. There are demons of air, wood, water, sand, fire… and more.
The story of the Demonic Cycle is focused on people that want to fight instead of hiding, so they do everything they can to get the magic and more runes back into the world.
Why am I talking about demonic cycle while the post is about the nightfall saga?
Well, because The Nightfall Saga is… the continuation. Fifteen years after the last book. So if you like the idea of this series (5 books in demonic saga and so far… 2 of the nightfall saga) - you are in for a solid treat.
Back to the Nightfall Saga
I started the nightfall saga back when the first book, the desert prince came out. I won’t lie - I did not like the story, mostly because it was a teenager POV and I guess at that point in my life I had no patience for teenagers. But then, my sister started to read the Demonic Cycle with her friend, and I absolutely loved discussing the books with her.
She then moved to the desert prince and I said “yeah, no,”. But then, something funny happened.
“Where did you ragequit?” My sister asked, holding the book in her hands and giving me a searching look.
I bit my inner cheek and looked up at the ceiling, which was apparently helping me think. “I believe it was somewhere around page eighty.” I finally answered, pretty sure I did not get any further.
“Ah.” My sister purred, moving her eyes towards her book. “It starts getting good at page one hundred. Maybe you should pick it up.”
I frowned at that, but got up, went to the attic, digged the book out of my box and came back to the couch. I was right, I finished around page eighty-two. I pout my lips and looked at my sister, visibly excited with the contents of the book.
“Are you telling me I gave up too soon?” I asked.
“Yep.” My sister said, not even honoring me with a look.
So I opened the book. I remembered exactly where I finished (I tend to remember everything I read), and continued.
My sister was right. I gave up too soon.
The desert prince was… exciting. I may have closed the book a couple of times just to say “daaaaamn” out loud with a face painted with shock. This may have happened in public a couple of times.
The plot twists, interactions between the characters, the whole world-building… SO GOOD. I missed Brett’s works it seems. And so this is how our small book club (3 people) has been set up. We met up for the last 5 chapters of the book in a cafe, just to experience it together.
Dear gods I already had the “hidden queen” which is the second book of the saga. I got it before even finishing the desert prince.
Dear gods, the emotional damage of those two have really gotten me. It’s obviously a fantasy, no spicy scenes (I mean… It’s mostly teenagers. like 15/16). The book tells the story of how teenagers see the world (and adults) and let me tell you - adults in those books tend to make idiotic decisions.
Anyway… I may have been writing to the author asking for the third book… But it seems that I’ll have to wait. Thankfully, he won’t release it close to my debut book… I would never win with THAT competition 😂.
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General Review
Writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult decisions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Teenager drama: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I did not see it coming”: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Well, that was unfortunate”: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot twists: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fighting scenes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (some seem to take too long)
World-building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The map that does not include the ocean: ⭐️ (you’ll need to read the hidden queen to get this one).
Overall: Great fantasy read with strong characters, great world-building and intrigue. Some political themes as well. LOVE IT, CANNOT WAIT FOR THE 3rd one.
What’s your current read?
